THE CEO'S SECOND BRIDE

"You are so worthless!" The manager said, after giving him a thunderous slap.

The young man couldn't do anything, other than rub his cheek. What did he do? He really could not tell.

The angry manager looked around in satisfaction. He was satisfied with what he saw. His aim was to humiliate him in front of everyone, and he did it.

"Get out of here!" He yelled, glaring at him with a disdainful expression.

Alexander bowed his head, and walked away. He could hear the laughter behind him. He was being ridiculed again, for something he had no idea about.

He seemed to be the only one everyone hated, except Summer. She was the only person who stood up for him, when he was being bullied.

"Alex, I'm sorry. Sorry about what just happened, don't let it get to you, okay?" Summer said, patting his back.

He didn't understand why he was always attacked. He was hard working, and followed all the instructions given. He was even more punctual than any other person, yet he was treated so badly, like he was no human.

He wanted to cry, but men don't cry. He would rather endure all the maltreatment, than be a cry baby.

"I'm fine, Summer. It's nothing. I mean, it happens, everytime, so it's no longer a surprise to me," he said, passing a faint smile.

It was his usual lines, and Summer was used to that response. Even if he wasn't fine, he still claimed to be. Or, maybe he was?

"Are you sure? You don't look okay," she said, still worried about him.

"I'm fine. Just head back to your office, I don't want any troubles," he replied, looking away.

"But-"

"Summer, listen to me. If the manager sees you here, you know what will happen. Just go," he said, sternly.

She reluctantly left. She felt bad for him. He was human, and didn't deserve to be treated that way. He was a married man, and almost the same age as the manager.

Just because he was an employee, didn't mean he deserved to be treated as a slave.

What baffled her most was that he was the only one that was treated that way. Though others were scolded, he suffered much more maltreatment than the others.

Alexander was just a cleaner in the 4-Star Hotel. He was lucky to have gotten a job there, because it was the only way he could gather some money to take care of his wife.

Matteo was just the manager, but he had a rotten character. He often reminded the employees that he was related to the owner of the hotel, and had the power to do anything. Hence, they tried not to make him upset.

Alexander sat on the table, staring blankly at the window. So many thoughts ran through his mind.

Not wanting to dwell on the thoughts, he got up and picked a mopping stick, to continue working.

Despite all he went through in the hands of the manager and other workers, he was still polite, and humble.

He continued his work, cleaning the hotel room.

He wondered why life was so cruel to him.

He had no family or friends. It seemed like he came into this world alone.

Was this really how others, with no family felt, too? If he was financially buoyant, he wouldn't want to watch them suffer that way.

He had finished cleaning the room, and wanted to leave.

He was so lost in thoughts, that he almost spilled the dirty water on the man that was just passing.

"Hey, watch it!" The man said, with a look of disdain.

Alexander apologized, bowing his head, slightly.

"Sorry for yourself! You all are just so careless and incompetent," he hissed, and walked past him.

He picked up the things he had brought, and headed back to the cleaning room.

It was lunch time, and his stomach growled so loudly, that anyone passing at that moment would hear it. He had no money on him, he couldn't afford to get even the cheapest food there was.

The little money he made from other part-time jobs was for his wife, Franca.

It was just a day to her birthday, and he wanted to surprise her with a bouquet of flowers.

He didn't like to depend on her, as she was doing really well in her business. He would rather toil day and night to make some cash, than feed on his wife.

"Alex!"

He heard someone yell his name, and he jerked off, startled by the touch on his shoulder.

He lifted up his head, and found Summer standing beside him with something in her hand.

"I've been calling you, but you were so lost in thoughts," she said, concerned. She knew he was thinking again.

Rather than reply, he looked at the thing in her hand.

"What's that?" He asked.

She had, for a while, forgot why she came to meet him.

"Oh, it's for you. I figured out that you might have been hungry, so I bought you food," she said, smiling, as she handed over the polythene bag to him.

He stared at the bag, and at Summer. She took the stress to buy him food? She seemed to be the only nicest person on Earth.

Every other worker treated him badly, like he was an alien. A few, though. Only a few made him feel like he was part of the human race, though they were not as close to him as Summer was.

"Take it, already. Except you like the sound your stomach is producing," she teased, sitting next to him.

"Tha...thank you, Summer," he said, and frowned as she sat down. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm going to join you. I want to accompany you, so you don't feel bored," she said, taking out her own food.

She didn't mind him, she began to munch on it, and soon, Alexander joined.

He forgot about the person beside him, as he devoured the food, like he was being chased, or in a competition.

Hearing Summer laugh made him feel embarrassed.

"Stop laughing, you scum!" He said, with food stuck in his mouth.

"You should take it easy, else you will choke," she said, but before she could even say the last word, he began coughing hard.

She took out a bottle of water from the bag, and gave it to him to drink.

"Thank you," he said, after he drank the water, and calmed down.

As they conversed and laughed over the not-so funny jokes of Franklyn, one of the staff walked in.

"Hey, Alex. The manager wants to see you."